The first picture is
little Sam and Ruthie’s best buddy, Deste (holding Ruthie and Sam Berg's basketball). Yes, Deste is a boy. He just wears the dress because that is the
clothing he happens to own. It used to
be the only clothing he owned, until Ruthie took him on a shopping trip to the
local duka (store). We obtained
permission before taking him out of the hospital, of course! Deste was so excited as they selected two
pair of shorts and tshirts, along with some cool big boy “Cars” undies! Now he
only wears the dress when his “big boy” clothes are dirty. It is unusual for some of the patients to
have more than one outfit to wear, but Deste has become quite accustomed to his
varied wardrobe. J
Sam actually isn't sick - but his mom is, so he hangs out in the hospital with the other kids in pediatrics. He's been here for a few weeks or more. Sam is such a happy little guy, and LOVES to "steal" my sunglasses each time he sees me. Then he begs me to take a picture of him in them. So funny how easily these kids are entertained.
Deste has
lived in the hospital since before we came.
He has a condition with his lungs called an Impyema. I bet I butchered that spelling - sorry to any medical folk reading this blog! One of
his lungs was almost completely filled up with pus when he first came in. He still has a drain inserted into that lung. He’s so cute, and
so energetic and funny, that sometimes we forget about the drain and touch it
when we pick him up. This really hurts,
but he is such a little trooper – he just says , “Oya! Oya!” (No, No!) and
points to his side where the drain is placed.
Deste is an orphan and is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is just across Lake Kivu (a very large lake) from us. His mother, father, brothers and sisters all drowned when their boat
sank in the middle of the lake while they were on their way across it one Saturday morning, on their way to the market. Deste was a young baby at the time, so they
had left him with a friend while they went shopping. Now a distant family member, a sweet and
loving 20 year old single girl, is raising him.
She is so responsible, and watches him so closely at the hospital! She’s an inspiration.
The next picture (above) shows Deste again, but I want to show you Daniel, who is the boy on crutches in the background. Daniel has been stuck in his bed for months, with the worst leg infection that some here have ever seen. Mind you - being stuck in bed here is a bit different than being stuck in a hospital bed in the States. No T.V., no radios, no nothing. Just you and your bed. And guess what? Daniel has never, ever complained. He is just thankful to be here and to be receiving medical care. He is almost always smiling. Each time I visit him, he asks me to pray for him. He bows his little head and folds his hands so sweetly and so sincerely. I can't really put into words how precious this little boy is and how much he has taught me about the "childlike faith" Jesus talked about so often in the Scriptures, and about perseverance, trust, humility and joy. I'm going to miss him when he leaves.
Many of you have prayed for Daniel, and did God ever answer your prayers! Everyone was sure he would have to have his leg amputated, but God moved in Daniel’s young life, and his leg appears to have healed. We don’t want to “count our chickens before they’re hatched”, but so far, he has made great strides, and his leg is getting stronger every day. And all that happened without the wonderful orthopedic tools we enjoy in the States, and without an Orthopedist! I am so proud of my husband, who somehow did surgery for Daniel that he didn’t know how to do. Tim is very grateful to a doctor in the States named Carl, and to the orthopedists in Kerrville, who have helped him a ton via email. Tim says God led him through Daniel's surgeries, and I believe him. We are so grateful. Every time I see Daniel’s sweet smile, I breathe a prayer of thanks to our amazing God.
Last but not least is our miracle baby. This little guy was born in the wee hours of the morning, very premature, IN THE ROAD on the way to the hospital, shortly after we arrived. He was a twin, but his brother didn’t make it. L They showed up so small, with dirt from the road on their bodies and in their hair, and so, so, so cold. It was truly amazing that either of them survived. Tomorrow, he and his happy Mama will be discharged and will get to go home. When I look at him, I am overcome with the priceless value of every life, the unexplainable, merciful, altogether good ways of God, and the profound mystery that surrounds Him, and connects us to Him and to each other.
Thanks for reading.
p.s. In case you're wondering where our babies get such cute, hand knit sweaters, there is a group of wonderful ladies from a Methodist church in England who knit for them all year long. It is their ministry of love to these babies, and it is really appreciated by all the mamas who deliver babies here! They knit blankets, booties and hats, too! I've been thinking that maybe our sewing group at KFUMC might want to knit some blankets for these sweet things as well.......
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